Why Trump wants to rip up his own trade deal

The US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) faces a critical juncture as the three nations prepare for a mandatory review of the trade pact. Six years after its inception, the agreement’s "sunset clause" triggers a potential expiration in 2026, creating significant policy uncertainty. While the deal modernized NAFTA by incorporating e-commerce and service provisions, current political dynamics suggest a shift toward adversarial, zero-sum negotiations. Trade experts Barry Appleton and Antonio Ortiz Mena highlight that the U.S. may leverage this review to extract more favorable terms, potentially risking a "lose-lose" scenario where protectionist auto-part requirements undermine global competitiveness. As Canada and Mexico navigate these power-based trade strategies, the future of North American economic integration remains contingent on whether the participating countries prioritize mutual benefit or aggressive unilateral control.